College Women’s Club of Cranford has exciting year planned

The club supports Cranford youth and the amazing community through college scholarships, donations to project graduation and free programs open to all in our community and surrounding areas.

It is currently seeking new members. Come for light refreshments at any of the general meetings and free open to the public program events; see the website for membership information, program information and updates at www.collegewomensclubcranford.com; or email the club at cranfordcollegeclub@gmail.com.

Check out the line-up of programs and lectures for the year. All programs will be at the Jardine Academy, 75 Rod Smith Place, Cranford.

• Tuesday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m.: Mothers of Invention program, with speaker Carol Simon Levin. Levin portrays Lillian Moller Gilbreth, motion study pioneer and “Cheaper by the Dozen” mother of 12, and shares the stories of other overlooked women innovators.

• Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m.: “Preventing Identity Theft” program, with speaker Police Officer Ali Muhammad, from the Cranford Police Department. Muhammad and a guest speaker will discuss topics such as safeguarding tips to prevent identity theft, unwanted marketing and fraud scams, and crime prevention tips.

• Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.: “When There Were Witches: An Exploration of the Salem Witch Trials,” program, with speaker Mickey DiCamillo. DiCamillo is a trustee at the Historical Society of Moorestown, research librarian and archivist.

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.: Cranford Downtown Management Corporation program on history, events and ongoing projects, with speaker Caren Demyen. Demyen is currently the execu- tive director for Downtown Cranford. Learn about the Downtown Management Corporation’s yearly events, new businesses and more.

• Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 7 p.m.: “The Beatles – From Liverpool to Abbey Road” program, with speaker Vinnie Bruno, Beatles scholar and ’60s rock historian. This lecture will follow in the footsteps of The Beatles as they embark on their historic journey starting from their early days as a cover band in Liverpool and Hamburg into the excitement of Beatlemania. Coming full circle, the highlights of each individual’s post-Beatles work will be explored.

Online HEART Grant application is now available in county

The Union County Board of County Commissioners has announced that applications for the 2024 Union County HEART Grant program are now available for Union County non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars. Projects related to local history, the arts and humanities are eligible for consideration for funding in the HEART Grant funding program.

"We are excited to announce the opening of applications for the 2024 Union County HEART Grant program. These grants are a testament to our commitment to preserving our local history, fostering the arts and promoting the humanities in Union County," said Commissioner Chairperson Sergio Granados.

"We invite our non-profit organizations, individual artists and scholars to seize this opportunity and bring their creative visions to life. Together, we can continue to enrich our community and strengthen the cultural fabric that makes Union County so special."

The HEART — History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands — program serves as a catalyst for Union County's non-profit organizations, artists and scholars, enhancing their ability to connect residents with programs and activities.

Along with civic groups and cultural organizations, past HEART Grant recipients have included individual poets, writers, historians, painters, photographers, musicians, dancers and more.

Organizations can request a grant of as much as $3,000, with a 25% cash match required for any amount more than $1,000. Individuals can request as much as $1,000, with no cash match required.

Activities must take place in 2024, between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, to be considered for funding. Applicants must be Union County residents or Union County based non-profit organizations with programs taking place in Union County.

The online application deadline for first-time applicants is Wednesday, Oct. 11. The full application must be completed by Wednesday, Oct. 18. Hard copies are no longer being accepted.

The HEART Grant program is administered by the Union County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs in the Union County Department of Parks and Recreation. To receive the 2024 HEART Grant guidelines, visit ucnj.org/ cultural or email HEARTGrant@ucnj.org. For more information on all Cultural and Heritage Affairs programs, call 908-558-2565. NJ Relay users dial 7-1-1.